Display panels with interconnecting portions

ABSTRACT

A display panel that has a first edge of a predetermined length that includes a first mating element at a predetermined location along the predetermined length; a second edge of a second predetermined length that includes a second mating element that is complementary to the first mating element and is located along the second predetermined length at a position that is complementary to the predetermined location of the first mating element; a third edge that is connected to the first and second edges and spaces the first and second edges apart by a predetermined distance; and, a fourth edge that is connected to the first and second edges and spaces the first and second edges apart by a predetermined distance and defines an opening for inserting a product into a display area.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/358,930, filed Jul. 6, 2016, which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The invention relates generally to a flip display comprised of individual display panels that pivot about an axis like the pages of a book. More particularly, the invention relates to a display assembly where at least two independent display panels are connected together so they pivot in unison about a common axis.

BACKGROUND

Prior art assemblies of the book page type addressed by the present invention typically employed separate panels that pivoted on separate hinge pins. Each of the panels pivoted independently like a page of a book. Because displaying floor covering samples requires a large amount of floor or wall space, the prior art often provided display panels arranged in independent upper and lower rows. This proved to be inconvenient because the panels of each row had to be moved separately and it was more difficult to assemble the products efficiently. There have been attempts to join display panels, but they have not been satisfactory.

In view of the above, there remains a need for display assemblies that have improved stability and efficiency.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides display panels that can be used separately or joined to create an assembly of upper and lower product display panels that pivot together about a common hinge pin. The panels have improved hinge elements that receive a common hinge pin, which provides additional stability to the assembly.

Each product display panel has a defined perimeter, which is preferably somewhat rectangular. One edge of the panel is open for insertion of a product sample and the opposing edge is configured to receive the hinge pin. The remaining edges, typically the top and bottom edges, have at least one of a tab and or a slot. The tab and slot are located and sized to mate in a male-female fashion and join two panels in a single assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following detailed description will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates two panels that are assembled together but receive individual product samples;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a single display panel;

FIG. 2A is a fragment of a display panel with an enlarged view of the dovetail or female slot in FIG. 2;

FIG. 2B is a fragment of a display panel with an enlarged view of the dovetail or male tab in FIG. 2;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view illustrating the mating of the slot and tab and the area for the insertion of an auxiliary clip in the display;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating the assembly of the parts in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a section along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative auxiliary clip;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view, similar to FIG. 5, illustrating the assembly with the clip of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another alternative auxiliary clip; and,

FIG. 9 is a sectional view, similar to FIG. 5, illustrating the assembly with the clip of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIG. 1, the display panels 10A and 10B, which are identical to each other, are joined to create an assembly of upper and lower product display panels that pivot together about a common hinge pin 16. The mated slot and tab portions of the panels 10A and 10B, not fully visible in this assembled configuration, can be seen in FIGS. 2, 2A and 2B. The hinge pin 16 extends through the vertical length of the assembly and stabilizes the assembly horizontally so that when products 18 inserted in the assembly will move together as one.

As shown in FIG. 2 each display panel 10A and 10B has a perimeter that, preferably generally rectangular, that is aligned along the hinge edge 12C and the upper and lower edges have male and female tabs and slots 20 and 22. The preferred perimeter includes a first edge 12A and an opposite second edge 12B, each of which has at least one of a dovetail slot 20 and a dovetail tab 22. The dovetail tab 22 and dovetail slot 20 are located and sized to mate in a male-female fashion and join two panels 10 in a single assembly. The third edge 12C is configured to receive the hinge pin. The forth edge 12D is open for insertion of a product sample and can be configured as desired.

Still with reference to FIG. 2, the third edge 12C has at least two hinge elements 14A, which are preferably place near the edges 12 A and 12B. In a preferred embodiment, the hinge elements 14A are reinforced and have a slope at one end that helps guide the hinge pin 16 into middle hinge elements 14B and the opposite hinge element 14A. This allows the hinge elements to have a smaller interior diameter, which reduces play between the hinge elements and the hinge pin 16. The use of a common hinge pin 16 also adds stability to the two panels as they move as a single unit.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show preferred embodiments for the mating dovetail tabs 22 and dovetail slots 20. The edge location of the dovetail slots 20 and dovetail tabs 22 are a matter of preference; however, it is important that they are located for interconnecting without disturbing the vertical alignment of the third edge 12C of each panel. While it is possible to have a single slot or tab on the edges 12A and 12B, it is preferable to have at least two per edge.

FIG. 3 illustrates the assembly of the mating tab and slot and includes a preferred embodiment of an auxiliary clip 30. After the two display panels 10A and 10B are assembled and auxiliary clip 30 is inserted. Preferably, the auxiliary clip 30 is applied at the product side 12D to further stabilize the assembly. The auxiliary clip 30 has opposed portions 32 and 34 connected by and end portion 33. The auxiliary clip 30 is made with spring metal that urges the opposed portions 32 and 34 toward each other and the portion 34 includes a locking mechanism 36 at the free end. If an auxiliary clip 30 is used on the hinge side 12C, the hinges 14A are spaced from the respective edge 12A or 12B so the clip will clear the pin 16. Likewise, it is preferred that thickness of the exposed edge of the clip 30 less than the base of the hinge elements 14A to provide clearance for the pin 16.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the assembly of the components shown in FIG. 3. The panels 10A and 10B are located over one another so the male tab 22 enters the female portion 20 and slides under the edge 20A as the panels are move relative to each other so the edges 12C are aligned. Once the panels are aligned, the auxiliary clip 30 is inserted, preferably from edge 12D to further stabilize the assembly. Preferably, the first portion 32 of auxiliary clip 30 is flat and the second portion 34 is relatively flat except for the locking mechanism 36 which is biased upward behind the dovetail tab 22. The clip 30 is generally flat so it does not interference with a product inserted in the panel. In this embodiment the locking mechanism 36 is shown has having a squared off shape; however, the locking mechanism 36 may have other shapes, such as rounded, curved, or the like, that do not interfere with product placement.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate another auxiliary clip 40. The clip 40 has first and second portions 42 and 44 connected at end 43. The first portion 42 has a dependent portion 45 at its free end and the second portion 44 has a locking mechanism 46 at its free end which nests within the dependent portion 45. With this clip configuration, the edges 12B and 12A have apertures 48A and 48B, respectively that are spaced from the mating of the male and female elements and toward the edges 12C. The apertures 48A and 48B are aligned and configured to receive the end portions 45 and 46 of the clip 40. It is preferred that both the upper product display panel 10A and lower product display panel 10B have both apertures 48A and 48B, located on edges 12B and 12A, respectively, so that there is no need to separately produce upper display panels 10A and lower display panels 10B. The locking mechanism 46 of 40 has an upward bias to nest under the end portion 46 and join the panels. In a preferred embodiment of clip 40 shown in FIG. 7 the locking mechanism 46 has a inverted “U” shape, which provides smooth surfaces for sliding the clip 40 in place.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate the uses of another clip 50. In this configuration the portions 52 and 54 are connected at end 53. Portion 52 is longer than portion 54 and terminates at its free end in a box like locking mechanism 56 that is formed as a dependent rectangle. Like the clip 40, clip 50 is assembled so that the locking mechanism 56 is position in an area, formed by apertures 58A and 58B, that is remote from the mated male and female elements 

What is claimed is:
 1. A display panel comprising: a first edge of a predetermined length that includes a first mating element at a predetermined location along the predetermined length; a second edge of a second predetermined length that includes a second mating element that is complementary to the first mating element and is located along the second predetermined length at a position that is complementary to the predetermined location of the first mating element; a third edge that is connected to the first and second edges and spaces the first and second edges apart by a predetermined distance; and, a fourth edge that is connected to the first and second edges and spaces the first and second edges apart by a predetermined distance and defines an opening for inserting a product into a display area.
 2. The display panel of claim 1, wherein the third edge includes at least two hinge members that are aligned to receive a hinge pin.
 3. A display assembly comprising: at least two display panels, each panel comprising: a first edge of a predetermined length that includes a first mating element at a predetermined location along the predetermined length; a second edge of a second predetermined length that includes a second mating element that is complementary to the first mating element and is located along the second predetermined length at a position that is complementary to the predetermined location of the first mating element; a third edge that is connected to the first and second edges and spaces the first and second edges apart by a predetermined distance, and includes at least two hinge members; and a fourth edge that is connected to the first and second edges and spaces the first and second edges apart by a predetermined distance and defines an opening for inserting a product into a display area; and a hinge pin; wherein the first mating element of one panel is mated with the second mating element of another panel, the hinge members of respective panels are aligned and the hinge pin is located within the hinge members.
 4. The display assembly of claim 3, wherein the assembly further comprises a clip that is engaged with each of the panels.
 5. A display assembly comprising: at least two display panels, each display panel defined by a perimeter; a first edge of the perimeter of each display panel has at least one female element and a second edge of the perimeter of each display panel that is opposite the first edge has at least one male element that is located and sized to mate with the at least one female element; a third edge of the perimeter of each display panel extends between and spaces apart the first and second edges to define a display area; wherein the at least two display panels joined together in a display assembly by interconnecting the male and female elements of the respective panels.
 6. The display assembly of claim 5 further comprising a clip having a first leg portion, a second leg portion, and a connecting portion between the first and second leg portions, wherein the first leg portion is received by a respective one of the at least two display panels and the second leg portion is received by another one of the at least two display panels. 